Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hello, everyone. Happy Monday and welcome to the latest edition of Football Americas. I'm Alexis Yunus and talk about Avengers assemble. I have got Mauricio Pedrosa, Hercules Gomez and Alejandro Moreno. This is the crew that survived the snowpocalypse. Well, yes, indeed.
still time.
Well, there's still time and our cars are still somewhat buried, but it's okay. Our producer Beto, though, he flew all the way to the West Coast. Shame. Cobarde.
No, I just said shame.
I'm not going to call him cobarde on air. I'll call him after we're done the show. Then I'll call him.
To his face. All right. Well, we've got a packed show coming up here for you because guess what? Speaking of breaths of fresh air, Santi Jimenez sat down with our senior writer at ESPN FC, Mark Ogden. Look at Mark Ogden getting in on some football Americas.
There's my Mark Ogden. Santi Jimenez ready for Mark Ogden. Oh, I don't know if he is. What an experience that is.
But we're going to find out later on when we show you that exclusive interview. Plus, El Tri has been in action. And were they...
Yeah, you can call that action. There you go.
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Chapter 2: What potential moves are being discussed for Ricardo Pepi?
As for Ricardo Pepe, I can understand the allure of going to Fulham. And I can understand the allure of going to the Premier League. And honestly... These are perhaps opportunities that don't come around all that often. So even if it is five months out from the World Cup, if I'm Ricardo Pepe, I'm still out for a couple of months anyway.
So now it's a question of whether I'm going to be out for a couple of months here at PSV or there at FUN. I think it's an upward move for him. I think his role is not gonna change all that much. Whether it's Fulham, whether it's PSV, whether it's the national team, this is a guy that comes off the bench and gets chances. And a lot of the times, he actually takes advantage of those chances.
So I think it's a good move for Ricardo Pepe. If I were him, I'd be excited to do it.
Mal, what do you think? If I'm Ricardo Pepe, I'm paying the $5 million so that PSV can let me go and play or at least try to play in the Premier League. It's just a different level. It's just different quality, different competition. And for the lonesome Americans... Absolutely.
And even if Raul Jimenez is right now the starter, we'll see what happens when Rodrigo Muniz comes back, if he comes back at all in the rest of the season.
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Chapter 3: How is Ricardo Pepi's performance impacting his transfer options?
Ricardo Pepe is used to competing for his spot. That's not an issue. And every time he's healthy, he's delivered. I don't think this changes the way Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. Men's National Team coaching staff will see Ricardo Pepe. He will still be a part of the national team. And every time, as Alex said, he gets a chance, he scores. So his role is not going to diminish.
I think it's the opposite. If I'm Mauricio Pochettino and I have a player like Ricardo Pepe who makes a difference and I get him to practice day in and day out at the Premier League level, He's going to be a part of that team no matter what. So if I'm Ricardo Pepe, I don't know if he has $5 million in the bank, I'll go right there, get a loan, pay that money, and make the move right away.
Because Raul Jimenez is not getting any younger, and Rodrigo Mungins is injured all the time. He will have a chance to compete to become the number nine, the starter at the number nine position for Fulham.
Well, it's interesting because I definitely want to talk about the comparisons to Raul Jimenez in a bit. But first, Herc, just hearing Ale talk and just hearing what Mau just said, that he would take it out of his own salary to pay those extra $5 million just to make this move. Because to hear that you're playing at Fulham, who have been on a good streak now in the Premier League.
So I want to know, how do you think that his club future then would impact his role in this U.S. men's national team? Even though Mauricio Pochettino has shown that he doesn't necessarily care who you play for.
So Mau and Ale are thinking about it the way that one would think about if you're a player heading in. This is a massive opportunity. This opportunity won't come about probably twice in your career. But if we take Mauricio Pochettino for his word, that doesn't mean anything. Yeah. You've got to be playing. You've got to be important to your team.
At least that's what Mauricio Pochettino has told us. And that's what he's tried to stay true with this national team. I like Ricardo Pepe because I think he's a goal scorer. He finds the ball, he puts it in the back of the net. But you can't put the ball in the back of the net if you're not on the field.
And for whatever reason, over the last two years, he's found it difficult, whether it's injury or whether it's being behind an actual nine, the number nine, the man, team captain, Luke de Jong, whatever the case may be, to get on the field consistently. You're going into a situation where...
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Chapter 4: What challenges does Pepi face in the Premier League?
Fulham is somewhat safe, but not too long ago, they weren't that safe. And there's not too much difference between relegation spots and mid-table in the Premier League. This is a risky move for Ricardo Pepe on many fronts. We've already seen what a move, too big of a move, too early has done for him.
But he keeps getting those opportunities to get on the field, and when he's on the field, he scores. So I understand the ability of wanting to bet on yourself. I'm just worried that with Mauricio Pochettino and what he's shown and told us, being a... complimentary piece may not be enough for Ricardo Pepe if what he wants to be is a starting nine for the US Men's National Team.
Sorry to interrupt, but Raul Jimenez is not only the starter, he plays 90 minutes on a regular basis. And he plays 90 minutes not because Marco Silva believes he's Karim Benzema. They don't have any other option. Correct. And if a club like Fulham But yes, indeed, we'll fight to avoid relegation for the next 18 matches. Marco Silva meets another number nine right now.
So I have zero doubts that if this actually happens, Ricardo Pepe might even play more minutes at Fulham than at PSV right now.
And that would make a difference for Mauricio Pochettino, to your point. He's got to stay healthy. You spoke about Rodrigo MuƱoz being injured. I believe he's got more games in the last two years than Ricardo Pepe. You know, Pepe, for whatever reason, because Pepe's been out. It's the knee, or it's the arm, or it's behind the nine. Trust me, he's a very good forward, and I agree with Dali.
He's just a guy who scores goals, but you've got to get on the field to score those goals.
Right. So is there a world in which Ricardo Pepe actually picks up his phone, and not texting like just Sargent, but actually picks up his phone, right, and actually calls Mauricio Pochettino? Not that you would make him part of the decision, But talk. Talk. Talk it out to where you actually put some investment in the decision on Mauricio Pochettino.
And say, coach, this is what I have in front of me. What do you think? What are your thoughts? You've been a manager of the Premier League. You've seen me as a player. What do you think? Give me your feedback. And in that way, you're actually saying to Mauricio Pochettino, listen. Your view matters. Your opinion matters. Obviously, you're the national team coach.
And indirectly, I'm asking you, is this a move that is going to hurt me or actually going to help me in your view?
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